بخش 224 - امرکردن سلیمان علیه السلام پشهٔ متظلم را به احضار خصم به دیوان حکم

Then Solomon said, “O thou with the pretty voice, it behoves thee to hearken with (all thy) soul to the command of God.

God hath said to me, ‘Beware, O Judge! Do not hear one litigant without the other litigant.

Until both litigants come into the presence, the truth does not come to light before the judge.

If the (one) litigant alone raise a hundred clamours, beware, beware! Do not accept his word without (hearing) his adversary.’

I dare not avert my face from the (Divine) command. Go, bring thy adversary before me.”

It (the gnat) said, “Thy words are an argument (conclusive) and sound. My adversary is the Wind, and he is in thy jurisdiction.”

The King shouted, “O East-wind, the gnat complains of thy injustice: come!

Hark, come face to face with thy adversary and reply to thy adversary and rebut thy opponent.”

When the Wind heard (the summons), he came very rapidly: the gnat at once took to flight.

Then Solomon said, “O gnat, where (art thou going)? Stop, that I may pass judgement on (you) both.”

It (the gnat) answered, “O King, my death is from his being: verily, this day of mine is black from his smoke.

Since he has come, where shall I find rest? for he wrings the (vital) breath out of my body.”

Even such is the seeker of the Court of God: when God comes, the seeker is naughted.

Although that union (with God) is immortality on immortality, yet at first that immortality (baqá) consists in dying to self (faná).

The reflexions that are seeking the Light are naughted when His Light appears.

How should the reason remain when He bids it go? Everything is perishing except His Face.

Before His Face the existent and the non-existent perish: existence in nonexistence is in sooth a marvellous thing!

In this place of presence (all) minds are lost beyond control; when the pen reaches this point, it breaks.